If your child is anything like I was when I was in high school, he’d rather beat
his head in with a hammer than think about taking the SAT or the ACT again. That
being said, I want you to force yourself to read the rest of this article. Who knows,
your son or daughter may turn out to be one of the 1000s of people that have taken
my SAT / ACT preparation course, and seen a 100 – 190 point score improvement, or
more, on their SAT score!

In high school, a lower than expected SAT score can really make you feel stupid.
I know first hand. I had a horrible SAT score. It was really bad - a 620! I was so
humiliated that I made up a fictitious score (an 890 ~ which was terrible ~ but believable)
to help ease the pain. I couldn’t wait to get out of high school so that people would
stop asking me about it.

Much to my chagrin, my SAT score followed me around even after I got out of high
school. People always ask you about your SAT score. Like military service back in
the days of the draft, the SAT has become a common experience that everyone shares
(having taken the test), so it’s only natural that scores are compared.

I refused to tell my wife what my SAT score was because her score was so much higher
than mine was. I didn’t want her to think I was stupid.

It wasn’t until I began exploring the value of SAT test preparation for my clients
(as part of my college placement business) in 1998, that I realized how easily a
student’s SAT score could be improved. In fact, the 5 or 6 concepts that are tested
on the SAT are so basic that College Board believes the test can be administered
to 7th graders with success (Under the Duke Tip program). You heard right - 7th graders!

Now, If College Board is correct, the most difficult task on the SAT may be remembering
what you used to know; not learning new stuff. Here is an example of a tested concept
(not an “actual question,” but a “tested concept“) on the SAT to demonstrate my assertion.

“What is the remainder when 20 is divided by 8?”

A) 8

B) 5

C) 4

D) 2

Many kids needlessly experience difficulty with notoriously difficult problem like
this one. Most kids “feel” like they get the right answer when they mark “D” (2)
or “B” (5) as the correct answer. Unfortunately, these are both incorrect. Students
missing this problem need to be reminded that the “remainder” is the part left over
after a long division problem, not the number of times 8 goes into 20 (2 times),
or the number appearing after the decimal point (5). (Correct Answer is “4” which
is answer choice “C”).

Obviously, this is just a simple example, but it demonstrates the concept ~ namely
that the difficulty is not what you don’t know. On the contrary, it is remembering
what you were taught a long time ago.

Listen, there’s no reason to be content with an SAT or ACT score that is lower than
your expectations or inconsistent with your child’s classroom experiences. Regardless
of your current score (perfect score aside), you will improve your score by taking
my course. My course guarantees a score improvement, and the average score improvement
is between 100 and 190 points. Since 1999, I’ve successfully taught hundreds of kids
how to negotiate the SAT successfully. I teach to the heart of the test - using the
approach that a 7th grader would take to be successful.

Let’s face it, if a 7th grader can do it, we should all be able to do it! Call me
at 803/957-0459 if you have further questions.

We’re not giving up on you.

Coach! I wanted to let you know that both my Math and Critical Reading scores went
up by 70 points each on the November 1 SAT. My total score improvement from your
class was 140 points, and my SAT score is now a 1220! - Anthony Santilli

Update: Jamison has increased his SAT score to a 1270. From a 980 to a 1270! (friends,
that’s a 290 point score improvement). We’re thrilled! - Jan Berry